Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Our Mission

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul mission is very simple: Grow our members spirituality and faith through personal contact and service to our brothers and sisters in need. This Vincentian ethic of faith-in-action forms the helping hand that puts a meal on a family's table and ensures the lights and heat stay on. Our faith in action sees to it that men, women, and children are clothed, have a bed or needed furniture, or even just a safe place to sleep. It's reaching out to those in need and giving them the gift of Hope.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an international Catholic lay organization that provides individual help to those in need and seeks to address the causes of poverty arid injustice. To achieve this, our members are nourished by prayer, reflections, and supportive gatherings. They strive to walk in the footsteps of Jesus who comforted the sick, embraced lepers, and washed the feet of strangers.
Although a Catholic organization, we offer person-to-person help for those in need without regard to religious affiliation. We see the face of God in all humans - of every persuasion and from all walks of life - who may benefit from our aid.

History of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul

In 1833, Frederic Ozanam was a young law student at Sorbonne in France. Challenged during a debate to demonstrate what Catholic students were personally doing to help the poor in their Parish, Ozanam - only 20 years of age - took immediate action. He and six fellow students established a group which they named The Conference of Charity and financed its charitable works out of their own pockets.

Guided by the highly regarded Sister Rosalie Rendue of the Daughters of Charity, Ozanam pioneered an enduring process of service for the poor. In 1833 Ozanam placed the Conference under the patronage of St. Vincent de Paul, who had earlier served the poor of 16th Century France.

In 1845, the Society crossed the Atlantic and established a United States foothold in St. Louis, Missouri. Some 80 years later it arrived in Santa Fe when the first conference was established at St. Francis Cathedral in 1925. New conferences throughout the Archdiocese of Santa Fe soon followed.

Today, St. Vincent de Paul of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe is forty-eight conferences strong and continues to grow. We are a network of 501(c)(3) approved non-profit conferences, stores, and pantries, and donations are tax deductible.

Last year, St. Vincent de Paul of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe was able to serve some 170,000 people in need. This was achieved through the combined efforts of our 48 conferences, 23 food pantries, and seven thrift stores.

These organizations mutually support the St. Vincent de Paul mission through differing methods and means, and their collective contribution is vital.

Website: St. Vincent de Paul Society USA

Source: People of God